Grad student studies Dumpster-diving

SEATTLE, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- An anthropology graduate student in Seattle said he is studying Dumpster-diving culture to bring awareness to the amount of edible food that ends up as trash.

University of Washington grad student David Giles, 31, an Australia native, said he has been vaulting into Dumpsters and scrounging for edibles as part of his thesis project, which he said he hopes will inspire people to donate leftover food to the hungry rather than throwing it out, The Seattle Times reported Friday.

"The first thing that hits you in the face is how good the stuff in the Dumpster is," Giles said. "It's thrown away because it's not profitable."

Giles said his Dumpster-diving research has cut his monthly grocery bill down to $100 and he knows others who sustain themselves strictly on what they find in the trash.

The graduate student said he plans to write a book about his experiences when he finishes his thesis next year.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.